Method and apparatus for preserving the contents of beverage containers

ABSTRACT

This invention provides a method of and an apparatus for preservation of the contents of a part filled beverage container, such as an opened wine bottle ( 2 ). The method comprises the steps of removing gas from the container ( 2 ) until a first predetermined pressure is achieved; and supplying an inert gas to the container until a second predetermined pressure is achieved. To preserve the contents of a sparkling wine bottle, it is possible to supply a pressurising gas to the container until a third predetermined pressure is reached.

This invention relates to preservation of the contents of beveragecontainers, in particular to preserving the contents of still andsparkling wine bottles once some of the wine has been removed. However,the invention can equally well be used with other beverages and othertype of containers, for example wine barrels.

It is known to preserve still wine in wine bottles by evacuating the airspace above the liquid once some of the wine has been consumed. It isalso known to preserve sparkling wine in wine bottles by pumping air orcarbon dioxide into the bottle to prevent the wine from losing itssparkle.

However, a problem with such known systems is that the residual air (andhence oxygen) in the bottle allows some oxidation of the contents tooccur. Furthermore, some beverages may deteriorate if kept at a subatmospheric pressure for a sufficient length of time.

This invention seeks to reduce the amount of residual oxygen in abeverage container in order to increase the length of time for which apreserved beverage may be stared, and seeks to avoid the need to store abeverage at a sub atmospheric pressure.

In its broadest aspect, the invention provides apparatus for preservingthe contents of a part filled container, the apparatus comprising astopper with a bi-directional valve, adapted to be removably fitted inan aperture of the container; means for extracting a gas from thecontainer, through the valve in the stopper; and means for introducing agas into the container, through the valve in the stopper.

The invention also provides an apparatus for preserving the contents ofa part filled container, the apparatus comprising a bidirectional valvedstopper, adapted to be removably fitted in an aperture of the container;a vacuum source communicating with a socket of the apparatus via a firstpneumatic circuit, the socket being adapted to form a seal with thestopper, the vacuum source being arranged, in operation, to remove gasfrom the container via the stopper to create a sub atmospheric pressureinside the container; means for disconnecting the vacuum source once afirst predetermined pressure has been achieved inside the container; aninert gas source communicating with the socket via a second pneumaticcircuit, the inert gas source being arranged to supply inert gas intothe container via the stopper once the vacuum source has beendisconnected; and means for ceasing the supply of inert gas once asecond predetermined pressure has been achieved inside the container.

The vacuum source is preferably a vacuum pump, and the means fordisconnecting the vacuum source may comprise a switch which switches offand stops operation of the pump.

By replacing air, and its oxygen content with an inert gas in a partfilled container it is possible to slow the rate of oxidation and hencedeterioration of the contents. As the percentage of oxygen in air isknown (approximately 18%) and the percentage of remaining air/gas at thefirst predetermined pressure is known, it is possible to quantify theresidual oxygen content after a cycle of removal of gas followed bysupply of the inert gas. Two or more cycles may be completed in order tofurther dilute the residual oxygen content and therefore furtherincrease the possible period of preservation. Alternatively the level ofvacuum (ie the first predetermined pressure) may be increased with thesame result.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the bi-directional valvedstopper is a stopper incorporating a flutter valve. The flutter valve ispreferably arranged, once a cycle is complete, to retain a smallresidual pressure differential between the atmosphere inside thecontainer and the ambient atmosphere outside.

In the case of still beverages, the pressure inside the bottle will beslightly superatmospheric, so that the slight residual pressure preventsthe ingress of air if the container (for example a bottle) is cooled orrefrigerated. In other embodiments the stopper could incorporate two nonreturn valves which operate to prevent flow in different directions, forexample.

For the preservation of sparkling beverages it is desirable to apply asuperatmospheric pressure to the part filled container in order toprevent the beverage from losing its sparkle. This can be done afterreplacing air and its oxygen content with an inert gas, thus ensuringthat the beverage neither oxidises nor loses its effervescence.

Therefore, for preservation of sparkling beverages the apparatus furthercomprises a second gas source communicating with a socket, the secondgas source being arranged, in operation, to supply gas into thecontainer via the stopper; and means for ceasing the supply of the gasonce a third predetermined pressure is reached.

It would be possible for the two operations, i.e. the replacement ofresidual oxygen by an inert gas, and the application of a head pressureto be carried out via the same socket. However, for ease of use by barstaff, in the preferred embodiment there are two sockets one for thereplacement of residual oxygen by an inert gas, and a second for theapplication of a head pressure from a second gas source.

Before offering a sparkling beverage container to the socket forapplication of the head pressure it is preferable if a second stopper(designed to fit snugly over the first stopper) is fitted. The secondstopper has a retention device to stop it from being blown apart fromthe first stopper, and a non return valve to allow the head pressure tobe applied and retained.

Argon is a preferred inert gas, because argon is particularly effectivefor inhibiting the evaporation of any dissolved oxygen present in aliquid in the part filled container. Carbon dioxide is preferred as thegas for creating the head pressure. It would also be possible to usecarbon dioxide as the inert gas so that only a single gas supply isrequired.

Preferably, the means for stopping the pump from pumping through thevalve is also arranged to activate the supply of inert gas. The meansfor stopping the pump from pumping through the valve and for ceasing thesupply of the inert gas or the head pressure gas are convenientlyimplemented by the use of pressure sensitive switches located in theappropriate pneumatic circuit, and arranged to operate once theappropriate sub atmospheric or super atmospheric pressure is reached.

Such switches may be arranged to actually stop the pump or supply orthey may be arranged to close a valve in the appropriate pneumaticcircuit, or both.

Part of the or each socket can be spring loaded relative to a switchwhich starts the pump operation or the supply of the second gas so thatthe socket can be: displaced by offering the container to the socket,causing the switch to operate.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is also provided amethod for the preservation of the contents of a part filled beveragecontainer, comprising the steps of removing gas from the container untila first predetermined pressure is achieved; and supplying an inert gasto the container until a second predetermined pressure is achieved.

The above steps may be performed a number of times in order torepeatedly dilute the amount of residual oxygen remaining in the partfilled beverage container.

This method may be used for the preservation of sparkling beverages byincluding the further step of supplying a gas under pressure to thecontainer until a third predetermined pressure is reached.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided astopper for a wine bottle, the stopper having a skirt to seal againstthe neck of a wine bottle and a bi-directional valve which can open toallow flow through the stopper in either direction when a pressuredifferential above a threshold level is applied in either directionacross the stopper, and which remains closed when a pressuredifferential below said threshold is applied.

The bi-directional valve is preferably a flutter valve and the stopperis preferably a one-piece moulded product of an elastomer material, withthe lips of the flutter valve being integral with the stopper.

The invention is particularly intended for and adapted to thepreservation of wine contained in conventional glass bottles, and may beinstalled behind a bar where a selection of wines is available for sale.It is simple for a bar tender to dispense one glassful from apart-consumed bottle, to insert the stopper and offer the bottle up tothe apparatus so that the air in the headapace, and its oxygen content,can be evacuated from the bottle.

Stoppers may be used which are colour coded to indicate the idealfrequency for the replacement of residual oxygen by an inert gas to beperformed, in dependence upon the expected turnover of the particularproduct. For example, black may indicate a fast moving product whichrequires the operation to be performed once at the end of service.Silver may indicate a product which requires the operation to beperformed once after each glass of wine is served, and gold may be usedto indicate a product which requires the operation to be performed twiceafter each glass of wine is served.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a stopper for use in the present invention; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a retaining device for use with the presentinvention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic view of one embodiment of the presentinvention. The apparatus is set to a ready condition using a switch 17.A wine bottle 2, from which a glass of wine has been dispensed, isclosed with a reusable bi-directionally valved stopper 1 which isinserted into the mouth of the bottle 2. The bottle and stopper are thenoffered up to a socket 3. The socket is connected to a strike plate 5for operating a switch 4. The strike plate 5 is biased such that aswitch 4 is usually in the off position. Upward pressure on the strikeplate 5 triggers the switch 4, which causes a vacuum pump 6 to operateand an amber neon bulb 7 to be illuminated. The vacuum pump 6 serves towithdraw air from the headspace of the part filled bottle 2 through thestopper 1 via a first pneumatic circuit.

The stopper 1 incorporates a flutter valve (see FIG. 2). This valve willretain a small pressure differential between its two sides (eg 0.1-0.15bar), irrespective of which side is at a higher pressure and which sideis at a lower pressure. The valve will however open to allow flow fromone side to the other when a pressure differential above a certain levelis applied across the valve.

A pressure sensor 9 is arranged to detect a first predeterminedpressure, which is a subatmospheric pressure. Once this firstpredetermined pressure is achieved and detected by the sensor 8 asolenoid valve 10 is caused to operate to close the first pneumaticcircuit. Relays 11 a, 11 b, 11 c serve to turn off the pump 6 and toopen a second solenoid valve 12 in a second pneumatic circuit. Argon issupplied from a remote source 13 (not shown) via the socket 3 and thestopper 1. In this embodiment of the invention argon is pumped throughthe second pneumatic circuit, although it would be possible to allow theargon to be drawn through the circuit by the pressure differential whichhas been created.

A second pressure sensor 16 is arranged to detect when a secondpredetermined pressure has been achieved. This second predeterminedpressure is just above atmospheric pressure, for example 1.1 to 1.2 bar.Once the second predetermined pressure is achieved the relays 11 a, 11b, 11 c serve to close the solenoid valve 12, which closes the secondpneumatic circuit and cuts off the supply of argon. The amber neon bulb7 then goes out and a green neon bulb-lights up to indicate operationcomplete.

In the event that the supply of argon is exhausted the second pressuresensor 16 does not operate and the green neon bulb 15 does not light up.The operator will then know that the operation has not been properlycompleted.

Removing the bottle 2 causes the switch 4 to return to the off position.The green neon bulb 15 goes out and the apparatus is reset and ready forthe next operation.

When the stopper is removed to allow more of the container contents tobe dispensed, there will be a small rush of gas out of the container.

The flutter valve 31 (FIG. 2) is preferably arranged to open inwardly atpressures of 1±0.15 bar and outwardly at

1 bar.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second stopper 32 which is adapted to fit snuglyover the bi-directionally valved stopper 3. The second stopper 32 has anon return valve 33 and a retaining clip 34 which is designed to engageunder the neck 35 of a bottle 2.

This stopper is to be used in a second operation to be carried out forthe preservation of sparkling wines, which will now be described withreference once more to FIG. 1.

The stopper 32 is secured over the bi-directionally valved stopper 3.The bottle and stopper are offered up to a second socket 20, whichutilises a strike plate 21 and a switch 22 in a similar manner to thatdescribed previously.

Activating the switch 22 causes the relays 11 a, 11 b, 11 c, to open asolenoid valve 23 allowing carbon dioxide to be supplied via the socket20 and the stoppers 3, 32. The amber neon bulb 7 lights up. Carbondioxide is supplied from a remote source 24 (not shown) and is pumpedinto the bottle 2, via a third pneumatic circuit until a third pressuresensor 25 detects that a third predetermined pressure has been achieved.

Once the third predetermined pressure is achieved the relays 11 a, 11 b,11 c, serve to close the solenoid valve 23, closing the third pneumaticcircuit and cutting of the supply of carbon dioxide. The amber neon bulb7 goes out and the green neon bulb 15 lights up.

Similarly to the previous case, in the event that the supply of carbondioxide is exhausted the pressure sensor 25 does not operate and thegreen neon bulb 15 does not light up.

Removing the bottle 2 causes the switch 22 to return to the offposition. The green neon bulb 15 goes out and the apparatus is reset.

1. Apparatus for preserving the contents of a part filled container, the apparatus comprising a stopper with a bi-directional valve, adapted to be removably fitted in an aperture of the container; means for extracting a gas from the container, through the valve in the stopper; and means for introducing a gas into the container through the valve in the stopper.
 2. Apparatus for preserving the contents of a part filled container, the apparatus comprising a hi-directional valved stopper, adapted to be removably fitted in an aperture of the container; a vacuum source communicating with a socket of the apparatus via a first pneumatic circuit, the socket being adapted to form a seal with the stopper, the vacuum source being arranged, in operation, to remove gas from the container via the stopper to create a sub atmospheric pressure inside the container; means for disconnecting the vacuum source once a first predetermined pressure has been achieved inside the container; an inert gas source communicating with the socket via a second pneumatic circuit, the inert gas source being arranged to supply inert gas into the container via, the stopper once the vacuum source has been disconnected; and means for ceasing the supply of inert gas once a second predetermined pressure has been achieved inside the container.
 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the vacuum source is a vacuum pump, and the means for disconnecting the vacuum source comprises a switch which switches off and stops operation of the pump.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the bi-directional valved stopper is a stopper incorporating a flutter valve.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a second gas source communicating with a socket the second gas source being arranged, in operation, to supply a second gas into the container via the stopper; and means for ceasing the supply of the second gas once a third predetermined pressure is reached.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a second stopper adapted to fit over the bi-directional valved stopper, the second stopper having a non return valve and a retention device.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the inert gas is argon.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which the means for stopping the pump is arranged to activate the supply of inert gas.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a switch biased in the off position by a spring which is in communication with a socket and in which the socket can be displaced against the action of the spring by introduction of the container having the stopper fitted in an aperture, and wherein the displacement of the socket operates the switch to start the pump pumping through the valve.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a switch biased in the off position by a spring which is in communication with a socket and in which the socket can be displaced against the action of the spring by introduction of the container having the stopper fitted in an aperture, and wherein the displacement of the socket operates the switch to start the supply of the second gas.
 11. A method for the preservation of the contents of a part filled beverage container, comprising the steps of removing gas from the container until a first predetermined pressure is achieved; and supplying an inert gas to the container until a second predetermined pressure is achieved.
 12. A method according to claim 11, further comprising the step of supplying a second gas to the container until a third predetermined pressure is reached.
 13. A stopper for a wine bottle, the stopper having a skirt to seal against the neck of a wine bottle and a bi-directional valve which can open to allow flow through the stopper in either direction when a pressure differential above a threshold level is applied in either direction across the stopper, and which remains closed when a pressure differential below said threshold is applied.
 14. A stopper as claimed in claim 13, wherein the bi-directional valve is a flutter valve. 